BSP on a sticky wicket in UP upper house

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May 16, 2007 17:05 IST

Though the Bahujan Samaj Party has achieved majority in the Uttar Pradesh assembly, the government might face the opposition's heat in the state legislative council where it has very little representation.

In the upper house of 100 members, the ruling BSP has only 12 members while the SP has 38 and the BJP, 24.

There is also a likelihood that the new government might moot a proposal to abolish the legislative council. A similar proposal was mooted in 1970 by the then government of Nityanand Swami in the Assembly.

On April 28, 1970 a proposal was moved in the Assembly to abolish the upper house but on March 26, 1971 the proposal was adjourned by the house following objections by the members.

However, constitutional experts say it was not the first time such thing had happened and there is nothing serious if the upper house does not approve the bills.

Under Article 198 of the Constitution, the council has no power to return back the money bills but if they make amendment in other bills then the Assembly will have to pass it again to make it an Act.

''It would be now evident that the government will have to introduce all the bills in the Assembly and if the council tries to put a spanner on any of the bills then they have to pass it twice to overcome the hurdle,'' experts said.

The next elections to the council from the Assembly constituency will be held in 2009. Till then there is no possibility of BSP raising its members from the present strength.

At present in the house of 100, SP has the highest 38 members, followed by BJP-24, BSP-12, Congess -3, RLD-6, Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)-2, Teachers group-9 and independents-4. Three seats are vacant.

The upper house of the state is constituted by 38 members from the Assembly constitutency, 36 from local bodies, 8 from teachers constituencies, 8 from Graduate constituencies and 10 are nominated.
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